Blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’, particularly selected for its plant health, fruit size, firmness, and flavor, as well as yield, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof blackberry plant is ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackberry is the common name for a multitude of plant species bearingdark purple to black aggregate fruit in the genus Rubus of the familyRosaceae. Most blackberries are within the subgenus Rubus.

Native chiefly to the northern temperate regions, blackberries are nowbeing cultivated as a valuable fruit crop in many areas of the world,particularly in Europe, North America and Central America. Recognizedfor their high contents of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamin C, andvitamin K. Blackberry fruit are typically consumed as fresh fruit,individually quick frozen fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purées,juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Globally, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearlythe entire crop being produced for export into the off-season freshmarkets in North America and Europe. The Mexican market is almostentirely from the cultivar ‘Tupi’ (also spelled as ‘Tupy’). In theUnited States, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer,followed by the state of California.

Blackberries are perennial plants that typically bear biennial stems(known as “canes”) from a perennial root system. The two cane types areprimocanes, or first-year canes, which are usually vegetative, andfloricanes, which are the same canes and produce fruit in the nextgrowing season. In its first year, a new cane, the primocane, growsvigorously to its full length of three to six meters in a growth habitof erecting, arching, or trailing along the ground and bearing largecompound leaves with 3, 5, or 7 leaflets; it does not produce anyflowers. In its second year, the cane becomes a floricane and stopselongating, but the lateral buds break to produce flowering lateralsthat bear fruit.

Recently, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have been developedthat are capable of flowering and fruiting on first-year canes.Primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have several advantages,including potential of two crops on the same plant in the same year,reduction in pruning costs by mowing of canes, avoidance of winterinjury, and production of fruit in an extended geographic area. However,primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties are also subject to a number ofchallenges, such as poor heat tolerance, lesser fruit quality, and lowyield.

Blackberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop.Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of blackberry plant. Inparticular, there is a need for improved varieties of blackberry plantthat are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of blackberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant (Rubus L.subgenus Rubus), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’.

Blackberry plant variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ was selected in SantaCruz, Calif. in June of 2012 and originated from a controlled crossbetween the proprietary female parent blackberry plant ‘BM643.1’(unpatented) and the proprietary male parent blackberry plant ‘BQ1017.2’(unpatented). The original seedling of the new variety was firstasexually propagated via root cuttings in Santa Cruz, Calif. in Octoberof 2012.

‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ was subsequently asexually propagated via rootcuttings, and underwent testing in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2014 to 2021(seven years). The present variety has been found to be stable andreproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via rootcuttings and tissue culture.

‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ was selected for its plant health, fruit size,firmness, and flavor, as well as yield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plantsthat are two to five years old.

FIG. 1 illustrates leaves of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a cane of variety‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a young shoot of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’. The data that define these characteristics arebased on observations taken in Santa Cruz, Calif. from 2014 to 2021.This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Colordesignations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptionsmay deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending uponvariation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The botanical description of‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ was taken from plants that were two to five yearsold. The indicated values represent averages calculated frommeasurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the PlantIdentification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition byJames G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwisedefined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Variety name.—‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘BM643.1’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘Q1017.2’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Root cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Height.—183 cm.        -   Width.—86 cm.        -   Height/width ratio.—2.13.        -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.-   Canes:    -   -   Internodal distance.—6.6 cm.        -   New cane.—Number of new canes: Few. Strength: Medium.            Glaucosity (waxy bloom): Very weak.        -   Dormant cane.—Length: Medium. Diameter (in central third):            Medium. Anthocyanin coloration: Medium. Color: RHS 144A            (Strong yellow green). Number of branches: Medium.            Predominant distribution of branches: Over whole length.            Cross-section: Angular. Spines: Absent.        -   Young shoots.—Length: 41 cm. Diameter: 1 cm. Number of young            shoots: Few. Anthocyanin coloration (during rapid growth):            Medium. Intensity of green color: Medium. Color: RHS 143A            (Strong yellow green). Number of glandular hairs: Absent or            few. Time of young shoot emergence: March to June.        -   Fruiting lateral.—Length: Medium.-   Leaves:    -   -   Time of leaf bud burst.—Medium.        -   Leaf.—Predominant number of leaflets: 5. Type: Palmate.            Relative position of lateral leaflets: Free. Venation:            Cross-venulate. Vein color: RHS 144C (Strong yellow green).            Intensity of green color of upper side: Dark. Color of upper            side: RHS NN137A (Greyish olive green). Intensity of green            color of lower side: Medium. Color of lower side: RHS 147B            (Moderate yellow green). Profile in cross-section: Flat            (level with the leaflet blade). Glossiness of upper side:            Weak.        -   Leaflet.—Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Depth of            margin incisions: Medium.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 9 cm. Width: 6 cm. Length/width            ratio: 1.5. Shape: Ovate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Doubly            serrate. Lobing: Absent. Shape in cross-section: U-shaped.            Undulation of margin: Absent or very weak. Blistering            between veins: Very weak.        -   Lateral leaflet (single leaflet in basal pair).—Length:            7 cm. Width: 5 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.4. Shape: Ovate.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Doubly serrate.        -   Rachis (length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets).—4 cm.        -   Petiole.—Length: 8 cm. Diameter: 3 mm. Pigmentation of upper            surface: Medium. Pigmentation of lower surface: Medium. Size            of stipules: Medium.        -   Stipule.—Length: 1 cm. Width: 1 mm. Orientation: Erect.-   Fruit:    -   -   Yield.—13,000 pounds (lbs) to 22,000 pounds (lbs) of fruit            per acre per season from 24-36 month-old plants when grown            in Watsonville, Calif.-   Resistance to pests and diseases:    -   -   Redberry mite (acalitus essigi).—Moderately resistant.        -   Fusarium wilt (fusarium oxysporum).—Moderately susceptible.

COMPARISON TO PARENTAL AND REFERENCE BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ differs from the proprietary female parent‘BM643.1’ in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ has a larger fruit size andhigher yield potential compared to ‘BM643.1’.

‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ differs from the proprietary male parent‘BQ1017.2’ in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ is spineless, whereas‘BQ1017.2’ has spines. ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ also has higher vigorcompared to ‘BQ1017.2’.

‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisBlackSix’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,502) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ has mediumanthocyanin coloration on dormant cane, medium anthocyanin coloration onyoung shoots (during rapid growth), the dormant cane length is medium,and the undulation of margin on the terminal leaflet is absent or veryweak, whereas ‘DrisBlackSix’ has strong anthocyanin coloration ondormant cane, strong anthocyanin coloration on young shoots (duringrapid growth), the dormant cane length is long, and the undulation ofmargin on the terminal leaflet is weak to medium.

‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ differs from the reference variety‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,291) in that‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ has medium anthocyanin coloration on dormantcane, branches predominantly distributed over the whole length ofdormant cane, u-shaped cross-section on terminal leaflets, and spinesabsent on dormant cane, whereas ‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ has weakanthocyanin coloration on dormant cane, branches predominantlydistributed only on the upper half of dormant cane, v-shaped crosssection on terminal leaflets, and spines present on dormant cane.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry plantdesignated ‘DrisBlackTwentyEight’ as shown and described herein.